Sydney FC Head Coach Steve Corica is urging his team to ensure they’re on their game against a buoyant Macarthur FC, who he believes will rise to their only chance to play at the new Allianz Stadium this season.
Corica will come face to face with old friend and Sky Blue Hall Of Famer Dwight Yorke, who returns to the new stadium for the first time since the pair combined to score the winning goal in the inaugural A-League Grand Final in 2006.
“It will be the first time he’s {Yorke] come back to the new Allianz Stadium,” said Corica.
“I’m sure he’s excited about it. He spent a very good year here when we won the Grand Final in the first year.
“He’s got fond memories of the ground and he’ll be surprised how nice it is now as well.”
Yorke’s Macarthur squad were defeated by Sydney FC 3-2 in October in Campbelltown but won at home to Perth Glory last weekend.
And Corica is certain playing at the new stadium and coming up against the A-League’s big club will have a different effect this time.
“I think a lot of teams a lift to play against Sydney FC,” he said.
“It’s something we expect, especially coming to this stadium it gives all players a lift.
“It’s not just our players who enjoy playing in front of a great stadium like this and a good crowd.
“We need to be ready for what they will throw at us but we want to play good football as well and get the win.”
The Sky Blues boss revealed a number of players will be missing but says key striker Adam Le Fondre is expected to feature.
“He’s [Alfie] has got a good chance of starting, but Max Burgess is out with concussion because of the eight day rule, we’ve got Brattan out with five yellow cards so he’s suspended.
“Jack [Rodwell] is closer but not for this game.”
“The boys are playing really well at the moment but the results need to be more consistent and it starts here against Macarthur this week.”
He also revealed there would be no chance of a repeat of the scenes witnessed at Melbourne’s AAMI Park last weekend.
“We’ve had no trouble at Sydney FC,” he said. “We spend a lot of time with our fans, with the club making sure they are well behaved and we have good communication with them and the police.
“We haven’t had that before here at Sydney FC and we don’t expect to.
“Christmas time is about family and we are one big happy family here at Sydney FC and we expect them to support the team and I’m sure they will.”
Sydney FC’s match against Macarthur FC (5pm kick off) is part of a double header on Saturday with the Sky Blues Women’s squad taking on Western Sydney Wanderers in the early game at 2.20pm.
